Angala Devi, also known as Angalamman and Angala Paramesvari, is an
aspect of the
Hindu
Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...
goddess
Parvati
Parvati (, , IPA: /Sanskrit phonology, pɑɾʋət̪iː/), also known as Uma (, , IPA: Sanskrit phonology, /ʊmɑː/) and Gauri (, , IPA: /Sanskrit phonology, gə͡ʊɾiː/), is one of the principal goddesses in Hinduism, revered as the Devi, ...
, primarily worshipped in the villages of
South India
South India, also known as Southern India or Peninsular India, is the southern part of the Deccan Peninsula in India encompassing the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana as well as the union territories of ...
as a ''kaval deivam'', a guardian deity. She is often additionally considered to be an aspect of one of the
Matrikas
Matrikas (Sanskrit: मातृका (singular), IAST: mātṛkā, lit. "mothers") also called Mataras or Matri, are a group of mother goddesses in Hinduism. The Matrikas are often depicted in a group of seven, the Saptamatrika(s) (Seven Mot ...
.
Legend
Angalamman is a manifestation of Goddess Parvati. This manifestation of Mother Goddess is more popular in South India. This is a fierce form of Goddess Shakti and she is also a guardian deity in many villages.
It is stated that Goddess Parvati took the form of Angala Amman to help Shiva rid of the Kapala that was following Him after He cut off the fifth head of Brahma.
Legend has it that Shiva took the form of Bhairava and cut off the fifth head of Brahma for being arrogant about His creation. Brahma had no remorse about the suffering that living beings had on earth.
But soon Shiva felt remorse and for redemption of the sin, Brahma asked Shiva to become a wandering ascetic (Bhikshatana) and beg for food in a skull.
As per the story of Angalamman, the fifth head started following Shiva. The head made his home in the arm of Shiva and started eating whatever Shiva received from begging.
Goddess Parvati decided to put an end to the Kapala. On advice of Vishnu, she prepared food for Shiva at Thandakarunyam Tirth near Angikula Tirtham. Shiva came to eat the food. Goddess Parvati intentionally scattered food around the place and Kapala came down to eat them leaving the hand of Shiva. Goddess Parvati seized this opportunity and took the fierce form of Angalamman and stamped down the Kapala using her right leg.
The most famous temple dedicated to Angalamman is the Sri Angala Parameswari Temple at Melmalayanur in Gingee Taluk in Villupuram District in Tamil Nadu.
See also
*
Isakki
Isakki (Tamil: இசக்கி), also called Isakki Amman, Esakki, Esakki Amman is a folk Hindu goddess. The term Isakki derived from the Sanskrit yakshi, through the Prakrit ''yakki''. Her veneration remains popular among certain Hindu comm ...
*
Matrikas
Matrikas (Sanskrit: मातृका (singular), IAST: mātṛkā, lit. "mothers") also called Mataras or Matri, are a group of mother goddesses in Hinduism. The Matrikas are often depicted in a group of seven, the Saptamatrika(s) (Seven Mot ...
*
Shitala
Shitala (, International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, IAST: ) , also spelled as Sheetala, śītalā and Seetla, is a Hindu goddess venerated primarily in North India. She is regarded to be an incarnation of the goddess Parvati. She is b ...
*
Sudalai Madan
Sudalai Madan (IAST: ) is a rural Dravidian folk religion deity worshipped predominantly in South India, particularly in the districts of Thoothukudi district, Thoothukudi, Virudhunagar district, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli district, Tirunelveli ...
Notes
References
* W.T. Elmore, ''Dravidian Gods in Modern Hinduism.''
{{HinduMythology
Tamil deities
Hindu goddesses